Just recently trying to get acquainted with G&S.
What’s available on DVD that’s good- I’m open to both film adaptations as well as filmed stage performances.
Please note: by “what’s good”, I mean what film versions are well done, what stage performances are well done filmings of well done performances?
In making a suggestion, please suggest a specific film or filmed production available on DVD- don’t just say “Ooh, The Mikado is good! Check that one out!”
P.S. because I know you people far too well, feel free to open your response by copying and pasting “Ooh, The Mikado is good! Check that one out!”.
The 1999 Mike Leigh film Topsy-Turvy is immaculate fim-making, and pretty much essential viewing for anyone interested in Gilbert and Sullivan: it’s not exactly a biopic, more a comic drama about the duo’s original writing and production of The Mikado. Also recommended is my current CS thread about new lyrics for “As Some Day It May Happen” {I’ve Got A Little List}, which is currently languishing on zero replies.
The version of Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt in it is pretty good. She plays Mabel. He plays the Pirate King and wears tight pants, which probably isn’t on your list of qualifications, but a young Kevin Kline and tight pants is a very good thing. Anyway, Mr. Kline’s hotness aside, it takes the silliness that all productions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas require to divine levels.
It should be noted that this version is only available on VHS. The copy I watched came from my school’s library, and it may be difficult to track down a copy. You can, however, watch the most famous number from the production, A Modern Major General on YouTube.
In my search for this movie on DVD, I found this list of Gilbert & Sullivan production on DVD, if that’s any help for you. The list shows the VHS of this version of Pirates, starting at $30, which I think is kind of steep.
Ah, I just noticed that you said available on DVD. I wish this version was available on DVD. It’s hilarious.
There’s also Sideshow Bob performing the entirety of HMS Pinafore as Bart’s last wish in “Cape Feare”…
My brother’s family got me this DVD boxed set last Christmas: Amazon.com
The production values aren’t always great–they look like filmed stage versions–but the performances are mostly good and I have had a lot of fun watching them.
If you like “modern” and slightly revisionary, there is a DVD set of three – Mikado, Iolanthe, and Pirates of Penzance – from the Canadian Stratford Festival that we enjoy a lot. I see that Amazon doesn’t seem to have them separately: Mikado You can probably find the set in various PBS or BBC catalogs, not sure.
As noted, the movie version of Kevin Kline’s “Pirates of Penzance” is great fun, but (alas!) not available on DVD – there is a DVD version of the stage play, but the quality of photography is very weak (grainy).
If you prefer the traditional, the Opera World set is very nice.